Record card controlled printing mechanism



Nov. 30, 1954 RECORD Filed Dec. 51; 1951 R. E. PARIS CARD CONTROLLED PRINTING MECHANISM '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. Ia

INVENTOR ROBERT E. PARIS ATTORNEY R. E. PARIS 2,695,558 RECORD CARD CONTROLLED PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 31, 1951 Nov. 30, 1954 7' Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. lb

' INVENTOR ROBERT E. PARIS ATTORNEY Nov. 30, 1954 R. E. PARIS 2,695,558

RECORD CARD CONTROLLED PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 51, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet s FIG.2

. INVENTOR ROBERT E PARIS ATTORNEY I Nov. 30, 1954 R. E. PARIS 2,695,558

RECORD CARD CONTROLLED PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 31 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ROBERT E. PARIS BY W95? ATTORNEY Nov. 30, 1954 R. E. PARIS 2,695,558

RECORD CARD CONTROLLED PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 51, 1951 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 30, 1954 FIG. 6

R. E. PARIS RECORD CARD CONTROLLED PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 31, 1951 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 CARD PERFORATIONS T a-o 11 e-4-|2 9K 8-4-ll 5-4-0 INVENTOR ROBERT E. PARIS ATTORNEY Nov. 30, 1954 p s 2,695,558

RECORD CARD CONTROLLED PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 31, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 0 4O 80 I20 I60 ZOO240280320360408O I20 I602002402SO3ZO3GO 98765432IOIII2 987 5432|Oll2 SENSING BRUSH 73 STOP PAWL BAIL 83 V ZONE BAIL 96--- PAWL LATCH BAILS as, 8?, as

SLIDES LATCH 234-'--- SPECIAL CHAR. CONTROL BAIL I29 SPECIAL CHAR. PAWL" BAIL II? CARD TRAVEL SETUP BAIL 54----- SHIFT BAILS II,I2"*

SETUP BAIL 55 SHIFT BAILS 40, 4I

PRINT BAILS 200, 2OI

INVENTOR ROBERT E. PARIS ATTORNEY U i ed Sta s P m fi 2,695,558 I Patented Nov. 30, 1954 RECORD CARD CONTROLLED PRINTING MECHANISM t Robert 13'. Paris, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New Yorlr, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 31, 1951, Serial No. 264,290 12 Claims. 01. 9s

This invention relates to printing mechanisms, and

'more particularly to mechanisms which operate autothe 0 point, which is usually considered as a zone point,

in combination with a perforation at one of the points 1 to 9 to effect the printing of an alphabetic or special character. By arranging a printing mechanism so that it is responsive to'the above sensing of perforations and is also operative on the sensing of a perforation at any one of the zone points in combination with perforations at more than one of the points 1 to 9, or is responsive to perforations at combinations of points 1 to 9 alone, then it is possible to obtain a printing of a larger number of characters.

The speed of a printer may also be increased by providing separate members or slides which are adjustable independently in response to the sensing of perforations, and which operate after being adjusted to effect printing. Either one of the slides may operate. to cause printing while the other is being adjusted from the sensing of a record. With an arrangement of this type, the machine cycles may be shorter since there is no need to provide time for mechanical operations of the printer after the sensing of a record hasbeen completed. The printing of data under the control of'one slide may be completed during the same period of time that is required for the adjusting of the other slide from the sensing of another record. i

In order that a single control means may determine the Y positioning of the slides fromthe sensingof holes, each where it is subjected to the operations of control means,

it is shifted to another plane so that the other slide may be operated upon by the control means. then moved to its home position in the second plane and effects a printing operation during this time.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved printing mechanism.

Another object is to provide a printing mechanism having improved means which is responsive to the sensing of perforations in a record for effecting an operation of the mechanism to print characters.

Still another object is to provide a printing mechanism which is responsive to the sensing of perforations at conventional zone points and certain combinations of subzone points as well as at subzone points alone or taken singly with a zone point.

Yet another object is to provide an improved printing mechanism having a pair of slides which may be positioned separately in response to the sensing of perforations for determining printing operations, one of the slides operating to effect printing of the data read in one cycle while the other slide is being positioned in accordance with the data that is read during the next cycle.

,erable to effect the printing of characters.

\OtheI objectsof the invention ,will be, pointed. out in The first slide is 2 the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1a and lb taken together constitute an end elevational view of the improved printing mechanism with parts broken away to facilitate illustration.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view taken on the plane of the line 22 of Fig. 1b, and showing a portion of the machine with parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view the line 3-3 of Fig. 1b.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1b.

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the carrier for the printing elements, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of actuating means for slides to effect printing, and the positions of the printing elements for the different characters relative to the slides at the beginning of printing.

Fig. 7 is a timing diagram. I The improved printing machine comprises, as show in Figs. la and 1b, a pair of side plates 1 which are connected together and held in upright positions by cross bars 2 (Fig. 3). Spaced inwardly from the plates 1 and mounted upon the cross bars 2 are plates 3 connected by cross members 4.

Arranged between the plates3 are pairs of slides, one slide of each pair being numbered 6 and the other being numbered 7. Each pair of slides is operative, as will be described later, to control the firing of a hammer 8 (Fig. 4) against a printing element 9 for moving the latter against a record carried by a platen 10. Extending transversely beneath the pairs of slides are two bails 11 and 12 having upright portions which carry studs 14 slidably fitting within slots 16 in each of the slides 6. The bails 11 and 12 project through openings 17 and 18 (Fig. 3) in the plates 3 and are connected at their ends to members 19 and 20 which are adapted to be moved vertically so as to effect a positioning of the slides 6 in different horizontal planes. Formed in the members 19 and 20 are slots 22 and 23 loosely. receiving shafts 24 and 25 which are rotatably supported by the side plates 1, and fixed to these shafts are earns 27 and 28 engaging rollers 29 and 30 on the members 19, 20 for positioning the latter vertically. Springs 31 and 32 are connected between the lower ends of the members 19, 20 and stationary elements, not shown, for holding the rollers in engagement with the cams. At the lower ends of the members 19 and 20 are slots 35 slidably receiving studs 36 on the side plates 1 for guiding the members so. that they move only in a vertical direction. i

Another pair of bails 40, 41 extend transversely beneath the pairs of slides and are provided with studs slidably fitting within slots 42 in each of the slides 7. These bails extend through slots'43, 44 (Fig; 3) in the plates 3 and are connectedto members 46, 47 having slots which slidably receive the shafts 24, 25. Cams 48 and 49 on the shafts engage rollers on the members 46, 47 for positioning the latter vertically against the action of springs in tlle Esme manner as described above for the members taken on the plane of Slide positioning means The slides 6 and 7 are urged to the left in Fig. 4 by springs 51 and 52 which are connected between the left hand ends of the slides and a member 53 (Figs. la and lb) extending between the plates 3. Bails 54 and 55 are engageable with the left hand ends' of the slides 6 and 7, respectively, and control their movements to the left under the action of the springs 51, 52. 'The bail 54 extends through slots 57 in the plates 3 and has at each end, as shown in Fig. 3, a stud 58 fitting within a bifurcated portion of a bellcrank 59 which is pivotally mounted on a shaft 60 extending between the side plates 1. Fixed to the shaft 24 is a cam 61 acting against a roller 62 carried by the bellcrank for rocking the latter about the shaft 60. The roller is held against the cam by a spring 63 connected between the upper end of the bellcrank and a stationary abutment, not shown. Bail 55 extends through slots 6 in the plates 3 and is operatively con- 7 nected to a bellcran'k 66' Which is pivetally mounted on the shaft and has a roller 67 engaging a cam 68 on the shaft 24. p 'The' "earns 61 ahd 68 are shaped "e that they operate 180"" out pf phasein eoiitrell'ing' the' ino 'ement's 6f the slides to the left. enned'amng th wenidge' of each slide are notches 70 (Fig. 4) nhi'ribere 9 as shown. Arranged below each pair of slides pawl 71 adapted to ngage any orient the he, hes fo stopping the movement of the s sets the left. Two other note at the left hand end in d"S1 an'dfSZ' are p'rovi'dedffor receivin thestop pan/1 wne he "slide is adj listed to effect the printing of special 'ch acteis. "O'n' of the I permitted to move to the; left so that "the 'r'i'otjc numbereda to o'approaehtne step paw ih sy" hr with the passing of corresponding numb 'ed in p ona card 72 ast a sensing 'bii'lsh 73. As soon as a perforation is sensed in the card, a circuit is fcbm'plet'ed from a 'eontaetjr'o11 74 throngnthe' Brush 73 and a magnet 75. An armature 76of'th magnet conneeted by alink 77 to a latch 78 whieh' norma ly engagesthe stop pa'wl for holding the latter renamed 'agaiiisf'the" ac'tid'n one spring 80;. H I

As mentioned above, the slides may be sn'ppprted in different horizontal planes by the bail's"11,"12 and 40, 41. Just before slide is moved to theleft, 'it'is dropped to to v pawl may After asli te hafs been-positionedin res'porise'tdthe s ng of a card it moved to an upper plane'for 'efiectih'g'theoperatih" ofthe hammer 8 through mechanism which will be described shortly; Asshown in' Fig 4,"the's'lide 'sis'n evin'g to the left'in a low plane whil'e'the slide '7 is in its upper plane and operatively engages mechanism to effect the aetnation ofthe hammer for printing acharacter'repre'se'nted by perforations in a; card previouslyjsens'ed.

The stop pawl is both 's'l idably and p'ivo tally supported at its lower end by a rod 82"exten'ding between the plates 3. The upper end of the pawl is guidedby a ball 83 ear ing the complete sensiiig of each card. Each o f'the cards 72 h'as' ind'eX points numbered '1 1' and 12 in addition to points 9 to 0,'and the card'sare' fed past the brushes" 73 so that the points are sensed in the order' 9 to 0, 1'1 and 12. As soon as the sensing of a :eard'has been completed,

the bail 83 moves toth'e left in Fig.'"4;- and the stop pawl tends to follow the-bail due to" the a'ctiori of the'sp'ring 80 as well as the action of the 'sl'ideo'n' the paw-1 if the latter engages one of the'notches 70:

Formedupon'the latch 1'78 is atail portion 85 which -:T

is engageable by bails 86, 87 and 88 fi-x'ed'to a'rotatable shaft-89. Thebail'86 engages the tail'por'tion to assure a'latching of the stop lpawl befoie a slide starts its inovemerit to the left; ,The bail" 87 is engageable with the tail portion of the latch just after the Number 5 notch 70 has passed the stop pawl; land .the bai1'88 is ehgageable with the tail portion the stop pawl.

"Associated with each stop pawl is a zone bar '91 ha'vingthree stepped portions 92 engage'able by a projecting P0111011 93 on the stop pawl for limiting pivotal movement of the latter in a counterclockwise direction; Each of the bar's is urged 'iipwaidly by a spring. 95, and its upward. movement is controlled by abail'9 6. Formed on the lower portion of each bar ate three teeth 97 number'ed Q; 11 and 12 arid engageable by atail: portion 98 on the latch when the latter is rocked in a cloekwisedir'ectron. An engagement of the tail portion 98 with the 0, 11 or 12 tooth results in a stoppiiigof the zone bar to present the upper, middle or lower steppedpoition 92 to the pro ectm'g portion" 93 on the step" pawl. These'step'ped portions permit different pivotalmovem'en of the" stop pawl to the left in Fi 4 If'n'o' on" "the teeth-9'7 is engaged by the tail portion 98," thez e eanrenows the ball 96 upwardly until; a high 'portijon "99 an; the bar hes opposite the portion 93 oh the'pawlt \ZVith the Zonebar in thispp'sitio'n; 'the"pawl" 'i's 'rev fit'ed from swin'glng a counterclockwise dire tio'n. The bail 83 is slidably supported fwithiia' s 100 (Fig. 3) 1n the plates 3' and is eoiihe'cte'd at each end throiigh I I p s s'iri'g 0f the card has'been completed. shown iirFig. the

just after the Number 1 notch'pass'es I 4 bail is moved again to the position shown in Fig. 4 at thebeginningorexneyete i Bail 96 is slidably supported within vertical slots 107 (Fig. 3) in the plates 3 and is connected at each end by a link 108 to a lever 109 which operatively engages a cam 110 on the shaft 89. spring 111 tends to move the bail 96 upwardly, and the cam 110 is shaped to permit such upward movement so that the upper, middle and lower stepped portions 92 on the zoning bar come opposite the portion 93 on the stop pawl in synchronism with the sensing of the 0, 11 aiid 12 points of the card. If a perforation is se'n'sed at any ohe of these points, the latch 78 is rocked to enga e the latch portion 98 with the corresponding numbered tooth 97 on the. zoning bar. This stops the upward movement of the bar in a position with one of the stepped portions .92 opposite the portion 93 on the pawl so that the latterrnay rock a predetermined amount when the bail 83 moves tothe left. If no perforation is sensed'at theO, 11 or 12 points on the card, the zoning bar 91 follows the bail 9 6' upwardly until the high portion 99 on the bai is opposite the'portion 93 on the stop pawl.

Formed on the zoning bar is a shoulder 114 which is engageable with the. stop Ipawl for efieeting a return of the pawl .to its'lithedpositiohpwhen 'the'.zoning bar is 'moved down'wardli' l The bail 96 moves the zoningbar downwardly at the beginning ofeachcycle. to a point where the stop pawl islatched and t-heh'the bailpermits a tionsof the pawl to engage .thenptches"., 70;

Associated with the slidepositining means already described are further meansfor moving a slide to a position where the stop pawl engages oneof the notches 70 marked S1 and S2, when predetermined combinations of perforationsare sensed in acard; This means comprises a' pawl 116 (Fig; 4)pivo.tally mounted on a bail 117 and adapted to engage a notch 70 in either one of a pair of slides. Each pair gf slides in the printingmechanism has one of the. paWl's l-ldas'soeiated with it. The bail 117 is guided at' its ends within' horizontal slots 118 in the plates 3 and is operatively connected,- ,as shownm Fig.3, to a bellerank 120.,whieh; carries a roller cooperatingwith a cam 1-21 ona sha'fillizr The cam 121 is shaped so as to'move the bail-117 to the right inst afterthe Number 4 index point on the card passes the brush 73 and to continue suclr' movement during the sensing of the Nuinbers 3;.2 and 1 indexpoints: As .s'hownin Fig-. 7, the bail 117is held; onlyafshorttime inits right hand posit on and is then returned to the position of Fig. 4 b' efore the beginning of-jthe next cyelmj {When the.ba il is in the position of Fig. 4, the nose of the pawl 116 lies approximately five and onehalf notches to the right of the pawl 71. The .iri'ovem'entaof the, bail is 'shffici'ent to shift one of the slides to the right adis'tance o'fithre'e' notches}.

Formed (in the pawl. 116'is a tail'portion 123 having sliding engagement with a pin 124 which is reciprocably guided by aframe mmberl-ZS and is urgedupwardly by a" sprifig12'6. A latch 128 is operatively connected to the latch"78,- as shown Fig; 4; and is engageable with the pin 124 for holding the latter normally. in its lower position. Engaging the upper side of the tail portion 123 is a bail 129 which is movable upwardly. to free the pawl 116 for actuation by the pin 124;. This ,b'ail is slid'ably guided by vertical slots 130 (Fig. 3) in the plates 3 and is conneeted at each end to a inember 131. guided for vertical movement by studs 132 on the plate 3." Mounted upon the lower end of the member is a roller which cooperates witha cam 133 on the shaft 89. A spring 135 is connected between one ofthstuds 1-32' and a stud on the'member 131 for. holding the latter in engagement with the cam. Bail 129 is moved to its upper position just as the Number 4 in'dex'p oint on the card passes the Brush 73 and is'held in its upper position until the No. 1 index point passes the brush". It is then moved downwardly to return'the pin- 1 24 toa position where it may be engaged againby the latch 128 I With the structure described, it is possible to obtain a positioning of a slide in response to the sensing of a perforation at an one of the 9to 0 index points alone,- the sensing of perforations atany of the 9 to 1 index points in combination with'a'per 'tio'n atom 'of the 0, 1-1 and 12 zone points; aiid'th Of iir fo l'ifiofis' at the No. 8 point aifd ithei t 4 hr N 3 point alone b: i ctimbiiration with simmer erforation atone 6f the printed.

"0, l1 and 12 points. If only one perforation is sensed at one of the 9 to 0 points, then the stop pawl 71 is released to engage the notch 70 corresponding to the point at which the perforation is located. The zone bar 91 is permitted to move upwardly later to a point where its portion 99 lies opposite the projection 93 on the stop pawl since there is no rocking of the latch 78 to engage .its tail portion 98 with one of the teeth 97. The stop pawl is then held against rocking movement in a counter- :clockwise direction when the bail 83 moves to the left in ,therprojection 93. This would have permitted a rocking of the stop pawl to shift the slide a short distance to the left when the bail 83 was actuated.

- If the card had been perforated at its No. 8 point and either its No. 3 or No. 4 point, then there would have been an additional shifting of .the slide. Assuming that a card is perforated at its Nos. 8 and 4 index points, the operation of'the mechanism to position the slide 6 as it moves to the left in Fig. 4 is as follows. Just before the No. 9 index point on the card reaches the brush 73, the

bail 86 engages the tail portion 85 on the latch 78 for assuring engagement of the latter with the pawl 71. The slide. is permitted to move tothe left under the control of the bail 54 so that the different numbered notches in --the slide arrive over the pawl 71 in synchronism with the passing of corresponding numbered index points under the brush 73. When the perforation at the No. 8 point is sensed, the pawl 71 is released to engage the No. 8 notch and hold the slide against further movement with .the bail 54. At this time, the No. 2 notch lies just to the right of the pawl 116.

Just before the perforation at the No. 4 point reaches the brush 73, the bail 87 engages the tail portion 85 on the latch 78 to assure an engagement of the latch 128 with the pin 124. At the same time, the bail 129 moves upwardly to free the pawl 116 for actuation by the pin 124. The sensing of the perforation at the No. 4 point results in an operation of the latch 128 to release the pin 124 so that it swings the :pawl 116 upwardly into the No. 2 notch. Bail 117 then moves to the right and causes the slide to move with it, the notches at the left hand end sliding over the pawl 71 during this time until the notch S1 at the left hand end engages the pawl 71. Bail 129 moves the pawl 116 away from the slide as soon as the No. 1 index point on the card passes under the brush 73, and then the bail 117 returns the. pawl 116 to the position shown in Fig. 4. Pawl 71 holds the slide by its engagement with the notch S1. The zoning effect the printing of. the character asindicated by Fig. 6. If a perforation had been sensed also at either the 0, 11 or 12 point, then the zoning bar would have been stopped in a position to permit the pawl 71 to rock so as to effect a shifting of the slide either A, /2, or of the distance between two adjacent notches. The slide would then be positioned to effect the printing of different characters, as indicated by Fig. 6. If a perforation had been sensed at the No. 3 index point instead of the No. 4 point, then the bail 117 would have moved the distance of one notch to the right before the pin 124 was released to actuate the pawl 116. This would cause the pawl to engage the No. l notch and move the slide to the right until the pawl 71 was received in the notch S2. The slide would then be in a position to effect the printing of the character If the pawl 71 was permitted to rock due to the sensing of a perforation at one of the 0, 11 or 12 points, then different characters would be For driving the various cams described above, there is provided a shaft 138 which is rotatably supported by the side plates 1 and is adapted to be driven by any suitable means, not shown. Connectedto the left hand end rof this shaft in Fig. la is a gear 139 meshing'with a gear 140 on the shaft' 89 (see Fig. 2) for driving the latter in a clockwise direction. Another gear 141011 the shaft 6 89 meshes with a gear 142 on the shaft 24 for driving it in a counterclockwise direction. At the right hand end of the shaft 138 in Fig. lb is a gear 144 meshing with a gear 145 on the shaft 122. Fixed to the shaft122 is a gear 146 (Fig. 2) meshing with a gear 147 on the shaft 25 for driving the latter in a counterclockwise direction.

Hammer actuating means plate. Pivotally connected to the upper end of the link is a bellcrank 155 cooperating with the lower end of an interposer 157 which is normally held by a spring 158 in a position to engage its upper end with a notch in the hammer 8 so that the latter is held in a retracted position against the action of a spring 160. Formed on the interposer is a shoulder 161 which is engageable with a plate 162 to limit upward movement of the interposer by the spring 158.

If one of the slides is moved to the right in Fig. 4 while its teeth engage the lower end ofthe link 151, the link is shifted and released from the stop plate 153 and is moved upwardly by the spring 154. This effects a rocking of the bellcrank for moving the lower end of the interposer to the right until a tooth 164 thereon is engaged by one of a plurality of teeth 165 on a member 166 fixed to a shaft 167 which is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. Engagement of a tooth 165 with the tooth 164 causes the interposer 157 to be moved downwardly until its lower end is cammed to the left by a member 168 out of engagement with the member 166. The spring 158 then returns the interposer to the position shown in Fig. 4.

For driving the shaft 167, there is provided, as shown in Figs. 1b and 2, an idler gear 170 mounted on a stub shaft 171 which is fixed to one of the side plates 1. This gear is driven by the gear 145 of the shaft 122 and meshes a gear 172 freely mounted on a shaft 173 that is rotatably supported by the side plates 1. Fixed to the shaft 173 adjacent the gear 172 is a sleeve 174 having arm portions 175 carrying bolts 176 which act on opposite sides of a stud 177 projecting from the gear 172. It will be seen that the bolts operate on the stud for connecting the gear 172 and the shaft 173 so that they rotate together. By adjusting the bolts, the gear may be moved to any desired position relative to the shaft so that the correct timing of the driven mechanisms is obtained. Fixed to the left hand end of the shaft 173 in Fig. 3 is a gear 179 meshing with a gear 180 on the shaft 167.

When the interposer 157 is moved downwardly to release the hammer 8, the spring 160 drives the hammer to the right until a shoulder 182 on the hammer engages an abutment 183. This action of the hammer causes a printing element 9 to be driven toward the platen 10 against the action of a spring 184. Adjacent the rear end of the hammer is a latch 185 which is engageable with a notch in the hammer for limiting the rebound of the latter to prevent a recompressing of the spring 160 with another firing of the hammer before it is time for it.

For returning the hammer to their latched positions after each printing operation, there are provided levers 186 pivotally mounted upon the plates 1 at their adjacent sides and cooperating with cams 187 fixed to the shaft 167. Extending between the levers is a rod 188 which is engageable with projecting portions 189 on the hammers. Just before the rod 188 engages the projections 189, another rod 190 engages tail portions on the latches 185 for releasing the latter from the hammers so that they may be moved to retracted positions by the rod 188. 7

After one of the slides has been positionedby the pawls 71 and 116 in response to the sensing of a card, either its bails 11, 12 or 40, 41 move the slide upwardly. Just before this movement takes place, the link 151 is moved downwardly by a bail 192 to engage the teeth' at the lower end of thelink with the teeth 150 on the slide for holding the latter against movement to the left by 7 the-spring 51 or 52 when the notches 70 are moved out of engagement with the pawls. As the slide is moved upwardly, the link 151 and the bail 192 move with it until the link engages the stop plate 153. The bail 192 is moved still higher to the position shown in Fig. 4 so that the link may be lifted by the spring 154 when disengaged from the stop plate by movement of the slide to the right. After printing operations have been completed, the bail 192 is moved downwardly to return the link 151 to a position where it is latched to the stop late.

The bail 192 extends through vertical slots 194 in the plates 3 and is connected at each end, as shown in Fig. 3, to a link 195 which is pivotally attached to a lever 196 operatively engaging a cam 197 on the shaft 173. A spring 198 holds the lever 196 in engagement with the cam and causes downward movement of the bail 192 when the low portion of the cam comes into position for engagement by the lever.

To"effec't a movement of each slide to the right in Fig. .4 after it has been moved to its upper horizontal position, there are provided bail members 200, 201 extending through slots 202 in the plates 3 and connected together at each end by a member 203 (Fig. 3). Each of the members 203 is pivotally connected by a link 204 to an arm 205 which is attached to a shaft 206 rotatably supported by the side plates 1. Another arm 208 is fixed to the shaft 206 and operatively engages a cam 209 on the shaft 138.

As the cam 209 is driven to effect a movement of the bail members 200, 201 to the right in Fig. 4, one or the other of the bail members engages a single lug 210 projec'ting from the upper edge of the slide. The bail member engaging the lug and the point in the cycle at which engagement takes place depends on the distance that the slide was permitted to move to the left during the sensing operation. The lugs 210 are formed on the slides at different points along their lengths for reasons that will be described shortly.

The printing elements 9 are mounted for longitudinal movement in U-shaped members 212, and each element is slightly enlarged at its forward end so that the spring 184 can move itaway from the platen only to the desired distance. Each member 212 is mounted upon a plate having projections 214 which receive pins 215 connecting the links of a continuous chain 216 cooperating with sprocket wheels 217 to effect movement of the printing elements past the ends of the hammers. At the ends of the pins 215 are rollers 219 which are movable within guide members 220 for supporting the printing elements in the same horizontal plane with the hammers. Referring to Fig. 5, it will be noted that each member 212 carries several printing elements 9, and the members are so arranged on the chain 216 that a continuous row of printing elements are presented to the hammers.

In order to cause the chain 216 to circulate continuously, there is provided a bevel gear 222 on the shaft 173 meshing with a bevel gear 223 connected to a shaft 224 that is rotatably supported by plates 225 extending between the side plates 1. Mounted upon the shaft 224 is a gear 226 meshing with an idler gear 227 which operates to drive a gear 228 on a shaft 229 carrying one of the sprocket wheels 217. During operation of the machine, the chain 216 is circulated so as to move the printing elements past the hammers in the direction indicated in Fig. 5.

As mentioned above, the lugs 210 are formed on the upper edges of. the slides at different points along their lengths. In Fig. 6 there is shown one slide of a pair at each printing position, and the lugs 210 are shown located upon the slides so that they are engaged by the bail members 200, 201 for moving the slides to the right to effect operation of the hammers at the proper times. The

other slide of each pair will have its lug 210 located 'at i the same point on the slide, but they have not been shown in Fig. 6 because both slides are never in their latched positions at the same time and the slides of Fig. 6 are shown in such positions.

As indicated in Fig. 6, there are forty-five different characters that may be printed, and the combinations of perforations that effect a positioning of the slides to print the characters are shown adjacent thereto. It will be noted that the numeric characters are spaced from each other by three other characters. This is due to the fact that the slide may be stopped by the pawl 71 without any rotation of .the latter or with-rotation to any one {of three positions; Stopping without rotation results :inathe printing of a numeric character, =while rotation :to"each of its three positions results in the printing "of analphabetic or special character. The spacing between the lugs 210 on the adjacent slides must be equal-Ito "one fourth the distance between adjacent notches 70 in a slide. It will be noted that the spacing between 0 (Zero) and 1 is equal to five units of slide movement or one and one fourth times the distance between adjacent notches 70. This is due to the fact that a perforation at the No. 1 index point alone results in a stepping of-a slide with its No. 1 match 70' engaging the pawl 71 and'with no rotation of the pawl, While a perforation at the zero point results in an engagement of the pawl with the zero notch 70 and a later rotation of the pawl to engage the upper step 92 on the zoning bar. g

It will be appreciated that a slide will move its g'reates't distance to the left when being adjusted for the of a 0 (zero) punch, and will move the least d when it is adjusted to print an this being the sym for a punching at the 84 index points. The ratterp' fiching results in a positioning of a slide to engage the stop pawl 71 with the S1 notch 7 0. v

The location of the bail member 200 relative to he lugs 210 on the slides is such that a movement-of a s rife in any one of the printing positions to eiTec-t a printing of the character opposite it in Fig. 6 will bring the liig to a osition where it is engaged immediately by the bail 200 when the latter starts moving to the right. Movement of the bail to the right is timed so that it starts just as the printing elements 9, bearing characters indicated in Fig. 6, move into position for engagement by the hammers which are controlled by the slides opposite the printing elements. The bail members 200, 201 move to the right at such a speed that they travel the distance between two adjacent lugs 210 in Fig. 6 during the time that it takes to move the printing elements from one printing position to the next adjacent printing position. Bail member 201 is spaced from bail member 200 a distance equal to the difference betweenthe minimum and the maximum travel of the slide during adjustment plus a distance equal to the normal spacing between two adjacent lug's 210. I

With the arrangement described above, the slide having its lug 210 nearest the bail member 200 in Fig. 6 'Will move to the left on the sensing of perforations at the 8 and 4 index points, to a position where its lug is engaged immediately by the bail 200 when the latter moves to the right. This causes immediate operation of its hammer to engage the printing element bearing the character As mentioned above, a slide rnoves its shortest distance to the left on the sensing of perforations at the 8 and 4 index points. If a 0 (zero) is sensed in the position corresponding to this slide, then it is moved to the left to a point where its lug 210 is engaged by the bail 201 after movement of the latter a distance equal to the normal spacing between adjacent lugs. This is necessary because the printing element for 0 (zero) is the next one to follow that printing and a shifting of the printing elements through only one printing position is necessary before the slide is actuated to release its hammer. The sensing of perforations representing any other character will result in a positioning of the slide at points between those mentioned, and a longer travel of the bail member 201 is required before the slide is actuated. This permits the movement of the proper printing elements into position for engagement by the hammer which is controlled by the slide. 1

It will be appreciated that the slide having its lug 210 nearest the bail 200 will be actuated by the latter in only one of the positions at which it may be adjusted, and that is the position obtained on the sensing of perforations at the 8 and 4 index points. The slide having its lu'g farthest from the bail member 200 will be actuated by this member in every position of adjustment. Upon the sensing of a 0 (zero) in the card column corresponding to the latter slide, it will be positioned to the left at a point where its lug 210 is engaged immediately by the bail 200 on movement to the right. Since the other combinations of perforations result in a smaller travel of the slide, it's lu'g 210 will always be at the right of the bail member .200 when adjusted for effecting printing.

- The slots 16 and 42 in :the slides 6 and 7 are'curved upwardly at each :end as shown inFig'; 4. Movementof the. slides to the right by the bail members 200, 201 is sufiicient to bring the curvediportion at the left hand end of each slot to a position where it received the stud 14 and permits the slide to drop so as to release its lug from the bail member and to permit a hooked portion 233 at its right hand end to engage a latch 234. A flexible member 235 is engageable with each slide to cam it downwardly out of engagement with the bail members. The slideis held by the latch 234 in its right hand position until the bail 54 or .55 is moved again into engagement with the left hand end of the slide and guides its movement to the left under the action of the spring 51 or 52. The latch 234 is lowered to release the slide for movement to the left at the beginning of each cycle, as shown in Fig. 7.

For actuating the latch 234, there is provided, as shown in Fig. 3, a link 237 connected between each end of the latch and a bellcrank 238 loosely mounted on the shaft 206 and having an arm 239 cooperating with a cam 240 on the shaft 138. A spring 241 is connected between studs on the link 237 and the plate 3 for holding the arm 239 in engagement with the cam 240.

If there are no perforations in a card column, then the slide corresponding to the column moves to the left in Fig. 4 until its left hand end engages the bail 54 or 55.

At this time, the upwardly curved portions at the right hand ends of the slotsl fi or 42 receive to studs Hand permit the slide to drop relative to the bails ll, 12 or 40, 41 so that the upward movement of'the latter at the end of sensing will be insuflicient to engage the slide with the locking link 151. The lug 210 on a slide in this position will also be out of the path of the bail members 200, 201 so that the slide is notpic'ked up during printing and moved to the right. After the-bail members200, 201 have completed their travel to the right, the bail 54 or 55 moves to the right for engaging the lefthand ends of the slides and guiding their motion again to the left. Any slides moving all the way to the left during sensing are returned to the right with the bail. During the first part of the return movement, the slide is eammed upwardly by the curved portions at the right hand ends of its slots. This upward motion would be sufiicient to engage the slide with its link 151 if it were not for the fact that the bails 11, 12 or 40, 41 are lowered to a midposition so as to counteract any upward camming. With the slide in its mid-position, it maybe moved to the right without interfering with the stop pawl or causing the firing of a hammer. Soon after all of the slides have been moved to their righthand positions, the bails 11', 12 or 40, 41 move to their lowpos'it-ions so that the slides may bhe cofntrolled by the pawl's71 and,116 on movement to t ele t.

While there have been shown and-described and'pointed out the fiindamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and: substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A mechanism operable in response to the sensing of data on cards for printing such dataon a record sheet comprising, in combination, card sensingmeans, means for feeding cards past said" sensing means, an elongated slide, means for moving said slide longitudinally from a home position in synchroni'sm with the feeding of cards past said sensing means, means" operable in response to the sensing of data for stopping said slide, a hammer, type elements, means gforwcirculating saidtype elements past said hammer for. engagement by; the-latter, means for yieldingly urging said hammer towardsaid'type elements, an interposer engageable with said: hammer for holding'it against movement bysaidyielding means, meanszincludinga spring urged member for disengagingsaid interposer from said hammer, a stop adapted .to hold said member in a retractedpositiorn. meansfor moving said slide transversely after card sensinghas been completed into frictional engagement with said membenanda bail engageable withsaid slide .at atime dependentuipon 'itspos'ition and operable to move the slide longitudinally toward its home position, said slide operatingupomsuch movement normally in a retracted position,

to release said memberfrom said stop for ieffecting 'operation of said hammer to engage one of said type elements.

1 A cyclically operable mechanism for printing data on a record sheet in response to the sensing of such data on cards comprising, in combination, card sensing means, means for feeding cards past said sensing means, a pair of elongated slides, means for moving each :slide longitudinally in a first plane from home position during alternate cycles, said slide being moved in :synchronism with the feeding ofa card past said sensing means, means operable in response to the sensing of data for stopping said slide in a controlling position, a hammer, type elements, means for circulating said type elements past said hammer for engagement by the latter, means including a member adapted to be actuated by either one of said slides for effecting operation of said hammer to engage one of said type elements, means for moving said slide transversely from itscontrol position after sensing has been completed into a second plane, said slide operatively engaging said member when in said second plane and adapted to actuate said member when moved in said second plane toward its home position, and. a bail engageable with said slide at .a time varying with the control position of the latter for moving it toward its home position, said bail operating to return one of said slides toward its home position While the other slide is moving from its home position,

3. The mechanism of .claim 2 in which separate bail members areslidably received, within slots in said slides for supporting the latter for movement toward and from said home position, said bail members operating to shift said slides in alternate cycles from movement. in one plane to. the other, curved portions of said slots adapted to receive said bail members when no data is sensed, said slot portions being shaped to support a. slide in a position midway between said first and second plane when said bail member supporting said slide is in a position for supporting it normally in saidsecond plane, said slide in its {)nitll position being out of the path of said first mentioned 4. A cyclically operable mechanism for printing data on a record sheet in response to the sensing of such data on cards comprising, in combination, .card sensing means, means for feedingcards one at a time ast said sensing means, an elongated .slide, means: for yieldingly urging said slide endwise from a home position, a bail engageable with oneend of said slide and operative to permit movement of the latter in synchronism with the feeding of a card past said sensing means, means operable in responsev to the. sensing of data on said card for stoppingsaid slide in axcontrolling position,

gageable with said slide at a time dependent upon its control position for moving it toward home position to shift said member, whereby actuationuof said member is effected.

5. The mechanism-of claim 4 inwhich said means for stopping said slide comprisesa stop'pawl engageable with notches in said slide, a latch for holding said stop pawl and means operative upon the sensing of data on a cardfor disengaging said latch from saidstop pawl.

6. Themechanism of claim.4.in whichsaidmeans for stopping said slide comprises a stop pawl engageablecw-ith notches in said slide andrnounted forpivoted movement, a bail for holding said: pawl normally against pivotal movement, .a latch vfor holdingnsaid pawl out of engage:- ment with said notches, atmember having stepped portions engageable by said. pawl for limiting its pivotal sensingof predetermined points on saidscard, and means operative upon the sensing of data at other points on ;said vcardzfor .disengagingsaidlatch from said stop pawil, said stop pawlbail operating-1 after'the' sensing of a card has been completed'for' releasing said stop pawl for piv otal movement.

'7. A mechanisrnfor printingdatafon a record sheet in A.

-;response to. the sensihgofsuch dataona card comprising, in combination, card sensingmeans, means forifeed-.

ingsaid card past said sensing means, a control member, means for moving said control member froma home position in synchronism with the feeding of said card past said sensing means, a stop pawl engageable with said member for arresting its movement from home position, means operative upon the sensing of data at predetermined points on said card for engaging said stop pawl with said member, a second pawl engageable with said member when the motion of the latter has been arrested by said stop pawl at predetermined points, means for moving said second pawl during the feeding of a portion of said card past said sensing means, in a direction opposite to the movement of said control member, means operative upon the sensing of .data in said card portion for engaging said second pawl-with said control member, said second pawl operating to shift said control member from the position in which it was arrested by said stop pawl, a hammer, type elements, means for circulating said type elements past said hammer, means including a shiftable element adapted to be actuated by said control member for effecting engagement of said hammer with one of said type elements, means for moving said control member from the position in which it was adjusted by said stop pawl and said second pawl into operative engagement with said element, and a bail engageable with said control member at a time dependent upon its adjusted position for moving it toward its home position to shift said element, whereby actuation of said element is effected.

8. The mechanism of claim 7 in which said second pawl is disengaged from said control member after the latter has been shifted so that it is held in its shifted position only by said stop pawl, and means operating in response to the sensing of data at other predetermined points on said card for effecting a shifting of said stop pawl and said member to the position at which said member is engaged by said bail.

9. A mechanism for printing data on a record sheet in response to the sensing of designations at index points on acard comprising, in combination, means cooperating with said index points in succession and adapted to sense a designation, a control member, means for moving said control member from a home position in synchronism with the cooperation of said sensing means with said index points, means operating in response to the sensing of a designation at any one of a predetermined group of said index points for arresting the motion of said control member, means operable in response tothe sensing of a designation at certain ones of said predetermined group of index points for engaging said control member, if the latter has been arrested in one of predetermined positions by said-arresting means, and shifting it to another position, means operating in response to the sensing of a designation at any one of a second group of index points for shifting said control member to still another position, a hammer, type elements, means for circulating said type elements pastsaid hammer, means'including a shiftable element adapted to be actuated by said control member for effecting engagement of said hammer with one of said type elements, means for moving said control member transversely after card sensing has been completed into operative engagement with said shiftable element, and means engageable with said control member at a time dependent upon its position after said sensing means has cooperated with all of said index points for moving said control member toward its home position to shift said element, whereby actuation of said element is effected.

10. In a mechanism for printing data-on a record sheet in response to the sensing of such data on a card comprising, in combination, card sensing means, a control member, means for moving said control member from a home position in synchronism with the feeding of said card past said sensing means, means for intercepting said control member to arrest its movement from home position, means operative upon sensing of data at predetermined points on said cardfor engaging said intercepting means with said control member, a retracting means cooperating with said control member, means operable for moving said retracting means into engagement with said control member in response to the sensing of data in said card at certain ones of said predetermined points, said retracting means operating before printing is effected to shift said control member from the position in 12 which it was arrested by said intercepting means, type elements, means forv moving said type elements to a printing position, and means under control of said-control member for causing a selected type element to print on the record which has been read.

11. A cyclically operable mechanism for printing data on a record sheet, in response to the sensing of such data on cards comprising, in combination, card sensing means, means for feeding cards past said sensing means, a pair of elongated slides, means for moving each slide longi tudinally in a first plane from home position during alter= nate cycles, said slide being moved in synchronism with the feeding of a card past said sensing means, means operable in response to the sensing of data for stopping said slide in a controlling position, a hammer, type elements, means for circulating said type elements past said hammer for engagement by the latter, means for yieldingly urging said hammer toward said type elements, an interposer engageable with said hammer for holding it against movement by said yielding means, means including a spring urged member for disengaging said interposer from said hammer, said member being adapted for actuation by either one of said slides, a stop adapted to hold said member in a retracted position, means for moving said slide transversely from its control position after sensing has been completed into a second plane, said slide operatively engaging said member when in said second plane, and a bail engageable with said slide at a time varying with the control position of the latter for moving it toward its home position, said slide operating upon such movement to release, said member from said stop for efiecting operation of said hammer to engage one of said type elements, said bail operating to return one of said slides toward its home position while the other slide is moving from its home position.

12. A mechanism for printing data on a record sheet in response to the sensing of designations at index points on a card comprising, in combination, means cooperating with said index points in succession and adapted to sense a designation, a control member, means for moving said control member from a home position in synchronism with the cooperation of said sensing means with said index points, means operating in response to the'sensing of a designation at any one of a predetermined group of 1 said index points for arrestingthe motion of said control member, means operable in response to the sensing of a des gnation at certain ones of said predetermined group of mdex points for engagmg said control member, if the latter has been arrested in one of predetermined posi-. 1 trons by sald arresting means, and shifting it to another position, means operating in response to the sensing of a designation at any one of a second group of index points for shifting saidcontrol member to still another position, a hammer, type elements, means for circulating said type elements past said hammer for engagement by the latter, means for yieldingly urging said hammer toward said type elements, an interposer engageable with said hammer for holding it against movement by said yielding means, means including a spring urged member for disengaging said mterposer from said hammer, a' stop adapted to hold said spring urged member in a retracted position, means for moving said control member transversely after card sensing has been completed into frictional engagement with said spring urged member, and means engageable with said control member at a time dependent upon its position after said sensing means has cooperated with all of said index points for moving said control member toward its home position, said control member operating upon suchmovement to release said spring urged member from said stop for effecting opera-'- t1on of said hammer to engage one of said type elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name' Date 1,608,837 1926 1,882,766 1932 1,997,167 1935 2,013,533 1935 2,030,427 1936 2,053,063 1936 2,101,444 11 1937 2,291,970 Neumann-Lezius Aug. 4, 1942 2,398,036 '5 Paris ,Apr. 9, 1946 i 

